Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1887-09-03

drowsily. "I1I lay odds no enc touches II there,
laugh r. "shsn / sswsss ny ;.7o''er WIN awake
sAn. yes that's right. answered Roysson.;
resled .ls1siy. and dropped heavily into the near.
IL e ; gsns III
II didn't Know hadn't SHOULD say 1 had taken
:Poon. nonsense" Giving him : little shake.
,I no1 nsd yourself there's s0od isl'0" ana GET
IAN light, you get out" said the other. rising
somewhat uasteadiiy 70 his feet. "cal me in the
sYou arc sure Jour revolver is loadeds" said
'cA' hang it. yes" rather impss'sns'y.
through the imperfectiy shaded windows OF the
room where Fitzgerald lay In heavy sleep, one
arm thrown above his head, his breathing deep
easily, moaned as il In pain, and nnally struggled
to drowsy sense Of wakefulness. He lay for
sny n@e with closed snH
to Lift his hand, to turn his head, but curiously
renders s nm
BILE OF the slightest movement A cold perspira-
tion broke over him; he felt horribly SICK and IL
thought wretchedly.
As he lay thus lowering on the border-lands OF
10 he s 81
that tho door had opened and shut again. With Q
mighty effort he opened his eyes little way, and
tiptoe. A mask concealed the upper part OF his
laca. scarf OF some kind was wrapped across his
mouth and chin: In his hand he carried long,
the moonlight Fttzgeralds nrst Impulse was, Of
course, to put his hand for his revolver which lay
nereeiy against the strange WEAKNESS which he'd
him poweriess, IL was in vain-he dould not move.
He tried 10 cali out but his lips were stin and mo-
less.
The man, meanwhile, advanced toward the bed,
ana stopped down. Fitzgerald's eyes were only
hall open. as those OF one who sleeps uneasily his
breathing was IabOred and irregular. But the In
truder seemed satisfied and cautiously and slowly
fell under the pillow, from whence he drew the
and placed IN the Inner
to strike him. and lifting the revolver, he deber-
ately unlOaded 1t, laid 1t down again, and turned
TO leave the room. But ere he reached the door,
Fitzgerald, with an almost superhuman effort,
mastered the horrible, mysterious lethargy that
Chained him, and 1inging himself out OF bed, stag
gered 70 his feet with hOarse cry. The other
muttcred afrightiu curse and raised his fight arm
Fitzgerald saw the knife flash, cold aud cruel in
ts ~ Tine ne also With
arm, above his barred wrist, there showed distinct
and unmlstakable against the white sktn-twO
IL could even make out the letter beneath
the daggerS.
The next moment the knife descended. aimed
and giddy, he fell heavily backward; the moon be-
came suddenly apscured, and the weapon, glanc-
Ing aside in the darkness buried itself In the eshy
part OF his left arm. He felt warm breath on his
cheek for moment, and heard q few flercely NUT
Tered words as the assassin bent over him. With
low grOan Fitzgerald turned heavily over on his
side; MS confused brain took the fact that the
door opened and shut cautiously. that muf1ed feet
PASSED down the unexpected corr1dor-then he
lost CONSCIOUSNESS
lie soon came 10 himself again, and struggled to
SIT up. he rem lined for some time used, be-
Wlidereo, ngntlng against the horrible suspicion
which filled his Luind. lie rose to MS feet with
difficulty, for the ne,h wound In his arm had Died
pr0iusely, and his mead stu felt light and queer.
however, he W the candle and TOOK a drauy nL OF
brandy from his flask, which revived him cUnsid-
eraOiy. Having bound up his arm as well as he
could. he got intO his ciOtheS-awkwardiye nous b,
for MS arm Was stin and painful. and he Was faint
and sick from loss Of blood. Then with hasty, un-
certain steps he sought kOyston's room.
1t was empty.
he nad a confused recollection. after that, Of
hurfylDg along The streets In the early dawn, his
uead tnrubbing, his brain reenng, his umbs as
though weighted with lead. The weather had
sna1a sh be- was ns rain ,ans and In
on ana on unheeding, threading Inc narrow
streets with unerring lnOuyn unsteady ieet, some
ms, lnct guiding his alepS, un.n he reached the
casino wnere fortune mad 50 smiled uUon t,i, "a
but few hours before. Weary and exhausted,
nc 0dndiy felt Ills Wy 70 the caru-rooln where
the talr dawn Was shut out, and the lamps n.ii ed
anu Swirred over the euger, ANXIOUS iaces nt.xLri
enough, SOme OF tuein, ami pincaed win lac
greed Va gain. Fitzgerald pushed Oack Tue heavy
curtain AID leaned DrodLniea, and sicA d, ala &
the doorway. Ills iansuid. ncavy eyes wanle.vu
round lne rOUm un IL lucy TcoLed on the lace uc
sOugut-tne lace OF Julian hoyslOn. lie sat al ,le
Lar eni oI the Table, ,hs CueeA> aud lip, u.voles,
III teeth ciencneu, ILLS cleaning eyes liked Oh Luc
eser-CAAnging Cards.
tie wao iO,inp steadily and surely.
Az i.i>t one So.ltaiJ note REMAINED. With treul-
Ding ni, ads nc sCdke0 1t On the queen. A .io-
uienL . suspense, and lhen-the oppOLJe card won
iic COscreA As taiCe Win al nauua Tor 4. 81 cuI
anu 5tAs sefed ~ nis feet. The next mone.i, nc
raised ..ls eyes and saw FtiZsesa,d, wuo,e 1--WE,
deadly pale, Was diy Visible Ia the swallow OF t!.e
doorway. an eAprcasion y, wiid, incrrda.ou,
n'irur flashed 1niO II Vi slons eyes. lie Lhre. H.
nis d las win Teri iuio nuIi-arlicu.ate ciy w.
iuy Go.W
he words, shrill with mingled terror, remor7
ana sp..l1, rang turouaa ,ue crowded room,
cda,In tac lncn :Ounu luv LaUie to start u :. :;
fetL In alarm.
AHA tne.i--ini then there Was = quick move
neAI Roy II I'D III III, bfed,l-tu s.,,a.u
AM n'oL VA ,.tti-.i uceJ srUan aud icli J
fof" dIi acrNss TIE tao.e, "A llI biuoL AZ
t~ruS Wnicu iiaL Oes'il lis ulu and curse.
ue u'ia s.a0oei Al .7e.i W Lue ueart.-LHrtss
lOrNe, Ls Engi 81 -Ri,y,4.i q.